Rami Arieli: "The
Laser Adventure" Chapter 1.1 page 4
The electromagnetic spectrum
Figure 1.4 describes the electromagnetic
spectrum.
Each part of the spectrum has a common name, and its range of
wavelengths, frequencies and energies.
The borders between the ranges are not sharp and clear, but are defined
according to the applications of radiation in that portion of the spectrum.
Figure 1.4: The Electromagnetic Spectrum
The most important ideas summarized in figure 1.4 are:
-
Electromagnetic waves span over many orders of magnitude in wavelength
(or frequency).
-
The frequency of the electromagnetic radiation is inversely proportional
to the wavelength.
-
The visible spectrum
is a very small part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
-
Photon
energy increases as the wavelength decreases. The shorter
the wavelength, the more energetic are its photons.